About Dog Bite Injury Cases

Any Los Angeles dog bite attorney can tell you that individuals who have been bitten by a dog in the state of California can obtain compensation for their injuries based on the provisions of the state statute (California Civil Code, Section 3342). The statute is one of strict liability and it consists of certain key elements. Specifically, in order to make a claim under the state’s dog bite statute, your lawyer must show that the defendant in question owned the dog; that you (the victim) was either in a public place or in a place where you had a legal right to be within the private location where the dog bite took place; and that there was an actual dog bite and an injury that resulted from it.

According to the terms of the state statute, liability will only be imposed on the owner of the dog; however, California courts have found that individuals other than the dog’s known (or documented) owner might also be found to be an “owner” under the law. For instance, ownership can be attributed to any individual who takes care of or has custody of the dog at the time. That said, if the defendant tries to contest a claim that he or she is the dog’s owner, your Los Angeles dog bite attorney might attempt to establish ownership based on such things as where the dog normally slept and who usually took care of the dog and its medical requirements.

Victims should also be aware that under California’s dog bite statute, the dog owner will only be liable for injuries that are caused by an actual bite, and he or she will not be held responsible if the victim’s injuries were caused by the dog jumping or chasing him or her. However, in order to show that there was an actual bite, your Los Angeles dog bite attorney will not have to show that the dog’s teeth actually pierced your skin — it will only be necessary for your attorney to show that the dog clenched its teeth on you.